Page
March 15, 1909.]
Hon. Mr. GRESSON The point I would like to make is that if you can bring in an Ordinance now to extinguish public rights it would be quoted in future as a precedent. In this case the rights are of no great importance, but as a a matter of principle it does not seem to be reasonable. People may have rights, and in years afterwards, according to this Ordinance. you can legislate to take away public rights, It seems to me a bad principle.
The DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKS--The only rights are the rights of small craft sailing over the rea and persons occasional fishing there.
His EXCELLENCY-It does not in my view lay down any general principle.
Hon. Mr. GRESSON-This might be cited in future when you wish to introduce a similar bill, It seems to give the Government right to resume any land by the passing of an ordinauco. The COLONIAL SECRETARY-They have the right now.
Hon. Mr. GRESSON.-People will hesitate to buy land if you can take away rights by ordinance. It will limit your land sales.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-There are no public rights here whatever.
Hon. Mr. GRESSON-The time might come when there would be important rights con- cerned.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-This applies to public rights not to private rights..
HIS EXCELLENCY-Have you any amend
ment?
Hoa. Mr. GRESSON-I thought perhaps it was a mistake.
HIS EXCELLENCY-You wish the marginal
note altered?
Hon. Mr. GRESSON-Yes. It seems drastic.
very
The marginal note was altered to read " deter- mination of public rights, and with several other verbal alterations the Bill passed through committee.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-No one dissenting, I move that the Bill be read a third
time.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the bill was read a third time, and became law.
HIS EXCELLENCY-The Council stands adjourned till this day fortnight.
A NIGHT OF MIRACLES,
On March 8th at the Central Police Station
|
was more than usually interesting by reason of the two apparent miracles that were worked in the charge room, an apparently dead man being brought to life again and a presumably deaf man being made to hear. The two men were brought to the station by a detective. He, keen officer that he is, hearing a whistle blown in Des Vœux Road, proceeded in the direction of the sound, and came upon a man lying on the ground, while another was making off. One of the Trai Company's linesmen came to the assistance of the officer and captured the runaway. Meanwhile the officer examined the fellow on the ground He lifted an arm, only to see it fall limply by the prone man's side. He tried his leg
next with the same result. Then he opened an eye, but rather remarkable, the optic closed again. Nonplussed, but suspicious, the detective took the pair to the station, where in the presence of an Inspector, the same performance was repeated. The astute officer. determining to bring the farce to a conclusion, speaking in Chinese, told a lukong to fetch the plague ambulance as the man was dying with plague, and that in the interval he would have to operate upon him with a knife and open his neck. The right eye of the recumbent man opened slightly when the words were spoken,
but he still remained on the floor. When the scissors were produced and the detective made as if to cut under the man's ear the apparently dead man leaped to his feet and declared that he was quite well. The farce did not end here though. The other man, who feigned deafness. was next treated. The detective discovered that he also suffered from plague and made pretence to operate on his neck with the scissors when this man also found his hearing and joyfully asserted that he was quite well again. All that he wanted was compensation from the other man with whom he had fought. Both rascals got their liberty and the police remained to laugh.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE HONG- KONG AUXILIARY.
The first annual meeting of the Hongkong Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held on the 10th inst. at the City Hall. The Hon. Mr. May was announced to preside but as he was called to Canton, the Hon. Mr. H. A. W, Slade took the chair in his absence. the
Supporting him were his Lordship Bishop of Victoria, the Revs. E. J. Consul General), and W. G. Humphreys. Barnett, T. W. Pearce, Dr. Wilder (American
The meeting have been opened with de- votional exercises.
The CHAIRMAN explained that he took the chair in the unfortunate absence of Hon. Mr. the working of the Society he asked them to May, and as he had to plead utter ignorance of excuse him from any remarks and he would call upon Rev. Mr. Pearce to read the report.
The first annual report stated: Throughout auxiliary is intended to serve were kept in view: the year under report the purposes which the and a measure of success distinctly gratifying to carry them into effect. has attended the efforts of the general committee
Special mention should be made of services rendered by the ladies committee. Reference financial aid accruing to the Society from the to the treasurer's statement will show that the work of this auxiliary during the year is, to the extent of $756.50 due to the well-timed activity of lady collectors. The committee records its appreciation each following year will it is hoped be marked by a further advance.
Bible Sunday was duly kept in the churches of the colony. In the local Chinese con gregations, special attention was directed to the Society's methods of distribution by col- portage a form of Christian service that is calling for the highest consecation and the noblest energies of the Church in China. Ap- peals of clergy and ministers were based on the Divine command for a world-wide evangeliza- tion; and the oniversal dissemination of the Sacred Scriptures was spoken of as a test of obedience to the risen Saviour and a first efficient means of witnessing to the power of His resurrection life.
Church collections have place in the treasurers' in the general report issued at Shanghai by the statements attached, and will be acknowledged Society's agent in China. Efforts of the kind made in the local churches on Bible Sunday, have, however, and issue that cannot be set down in a Balance sheet: thought is quickened, for the promotion of Bible work in an even- purpose is enlarged and motive power is given
widening field.
Sale of Scriptures from the depot during 1908 were in the under-mentioned eleven European
and Asiatic
213
On
Society as one of the most encouraging institu tions in the Colony. The report presented by Mr. Pearce
gave them ground for encouragement and they had to congratulate the ladies com- mittee on their earnestness and success in collecting 750 last year. They were glad that Bible Sunday was so universally observed in the Christian churches on the part of the Chinese and the European community, and they were encouraged by the effect of the splendid meeting held last year to inaugurate this auxiliary. His He remembered the stirring address which
Excellency the Governor gave that occasion, as well as the speeches of the two experts who spoke at that meeting, but though he could not claim to be an expert in the work of the British and Foreign Bible Society he was always glad to do what he could to further its interests. It was a society which circulated the best book in the world. They would agree that the Bible was in itself its best defence. The question of its inspiration had been answer- ed in this way.
Does the Bible inspire? The Bible is a book which inspires those who read and study it, and the inspiration it gives proves it to be the inspired Word of God. If they could imagine a world from which the Bible had been withdrawn, he thought they would realise how much the world had lost. If there were taken away all Bibles, all quotations from the Bible, all institutions that had their origin in the Bible they should be amazed. How much poorer the world would be? A great cry would go up throughout the Give us back our Bible." Literature, law and the arts were very much more dependent upon th Bible than most people supposed. His Lordship went on to speak of the comfort which the Bible gave to the dying, and proceeded to state that the society was founded on a very broad basis, among its officers being found the leading men of all the Protestant Christian churches. Under its aegis men of different nationalities and races could co-operate for the advance of Christianity, and in this con- nection he referred to the movement for a reunion among the Christian churches which was so strongly advocated last year at the Pan *. Anglican Congress. In working for such a Society as the British and Foreign Bible Society they were helping to forward the time when Christian people throughout the world should be one as our Lord and Master prayed they might be.
world
..
seems languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Hebrew, Greek. Punjabi. Chinese. and Japanese. A total of 8187 copies were thus disposed of con- sisting of 1545 Bibles 2358 New Testments and 4284 Portions.
Bibles, 2778 Testaments and 1097 Portions, In 1907 there were sold at the depot 1004 The increase for 1908 is therefore approximately $1.426.67 was received. 67 per cent. For these pub'ications the sum of
items in the report, drawing attention to tho sup. The Rev. Mr. PEARCE commented upon various port given by fellow Christian Chinese to the there was one platform on which men of different work of the Society, and pointing out that if
races and tongues could stand together it was the platform of the British and Foreign Bible Society.
resolutions: "That the General Committee for Bishop LANDER the nmoved the following the year 1908 be re-elected for the current year with power to add to their number." that the Ladies Committee be thanked for special Services rendered during the past twelve months and be requested to continue for a further twelve months with power to add to number,"
their "that Dr. Sanders the hon. treasurer and the Rev. T. W. Pearce the hon. secretary be asked to remain in office for a further period of one year. Proceeding he said that he regarded the British and Foreign Bible
to
be a.n
this
DR. AMOS P. WILDER said -Missions are the
efficiency; but there is an undisputed dignity subject of comment as regards personnel, method, and majesty in the unaccompanied circulation of the Bible. To question the potency of this book and the benefit of its distribution, is to It is the motive power of argue with the stars. our civilization; most or all we have we owe to it. As people absorb its teachings in their clarity and follow them, they become strong as in- dividuals and as nations; as they forget or obscure its precepts, they decline. Japan potential people is too young and modern to
exception, yet have fun the gamut of all the tests of national life. It is remembered that Shintoism was not able to break the bonds that enveloped that nation. Its sages confers a debt to Faith will come to its own there as elsewhere. Christiau impact, and hope is strong that the
fathers' devotion to this Book that in their Men enjoy so much as the legacy of our
arrogance some are wont to say that Buddha or Confucius offer an equally effective programme. The only answer needed is to point to India One finds virtues there, and and China.
divine; but how does the work of the Bible in whatever is good in man, wherever found, is
uplifting, not individuals but the mass. of men, compare with the fruit of the maxims of Confucius,-so excellent in precept and so futile If the great Teacher of the Chinese should to make a nation intelligent and progressive ? return-should speak with his old time direct- ness to corrupt Mandarindom how long would it be before he too were crucified? And "the little green god of India --what man save in' s cyncial mood, would claim for its unquestioned sway for thousands of years, the good things that Christianity has brought to millions of homes of the nations that rule the world ? Chang Chih Tang said a decade ago: Western religion is daily flourishing; while the two cults are daily declining and cannot last
“The
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.